Combined closure and applicator device



Dec. 22, 1953 F. LECKLER C OMBINED CLOSURE AND APPLICATOR DEVICE Filed Dec. 56, 1949 FIG. 2.

' FIG. 3).-

FIG.

' INVENTOR FRANK Laud- R BY TTORNEY Patented Dec. 22, 1953 ates Frank Leckler, Forest Hills, N. Y. Application December 30, 1949, Serial No. 135,900

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvementsin'c'ombined closure and applicator devices and is concerned more especially with a dispenser-or applicator device which may be readily attached-to a liquid container or bottle suchas is commonly employed for liquid shoe polish and the like 'and by means of which controlled quantities' of liquid may be easily withdrawn and applied to the articles being treated.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a combined closure and applicatordevice of exceedingly simple construction which is readily securable to a liquid container and which is provided with externally accessible plunger means operative to allow the fiow of liquid upon tilting the container.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character indicated which is arranged and constructed such a manner'as to assure uniform distribution a'ndapplication of the treating liquid to an article.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a combined closure and applicator de- Vice which may be fabricated easily and inexpensively from a minimum number of component elements and which is reliable and trouble-free in operation.

The foregoing objects as well as additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent in the course of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side view showing the improved closure and applicator device secured to a bottle with the control plunger about to be manually depressed prior to tilting the bottle for delivery and application of the liquid contents to an article;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the device illustrating the enlarged head of the manually operable control plunger;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the device illustrating the absorbent member or .pad;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the control plunger in its retracted position normally closing off" the device;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the bottle tilted and the control plunger depressed for delivering the liquid-to the applicator pad of the device; and

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the control plunger of the device.

Referring nowto the drawings in greater detail, iii designates the improved closure and applicator device of the present invention which may be made from moldable transparent synthetic plastic or any other suitable material. As may be readily seen from Fig. 1 the representation in the drawings is of a device made from transparent material, but the selection of material is of course not critical to the invention.

Th device is'provided with a body portion H which is preferably, but not necessarily, cylindricontainer such as the bottle l3.

cal in shape and with a depending cap or flange portion iii-or convenient attachment to a liquid For the latter purpose flange portion 12 may be internally threaded as atjtt, for secure engagement about the-neck of the bottle and is preferably provided with-an internal liner or gasket 55 in order-to secure liduid-tight connection.

"Body'portion i l is provided with an inlet channel it which communicates at its lowerend with the interior of the bottle [3 through suitably disposed apertures in cap portion l2 and internal gasket [5. Inlet channel it communicates at its upper end with a diametrical outlet or delivery channel H. A control plunger is is slidable within delivery channel i? and is of sufiicient length toextend forwardly of inletchannel to even in its normally 'retractedorrest position illustrated in Fig. '4. Said control plunger terminates outwardly of body portion ii in an enlarged head or button'ifiby means'of which the plunger may easilymanually depressedor urged inwardly into the operative position of Fig. 5, therebypermitting now of polish or other liquid contents of th bottle it upon tilting, as will be described morefullyhereinbelow.

The inner'end-of oontrol plunger l8is provided with an inwardlyextendingaxial bore or passageway 29' which opens forwardly into delivery channel ll. Adjacent the rear end of bore Ell, said control plunger is provided with a laterally and downwardly'extending port or aperture iii. The plunger is spring urged'and in the embodiment shown in the drawing'arecess 22 is formed in body portion it about the externally projecting control plunger rarer the r'eceptionof compresible, resilient :pad or gasket 23 of sponge rubber or the like which surrounds the plunger-stem and abuts the inner surface of plunger button iii. Resilient pad 23 may be secured imposition within recess 22 by means of adhesive and serves not only asa retracting member for biasing control plunger it; toward its normal outward position of Fig. l but serves additionally as a retaining member preventing removal of said control plunger from delivery channel ll, pad 23, of "absorbent rubber sponge also acts as a sealinggasketaround the plunger stem, not only preventing le'alzage'of the polish around the stem, but preventing exposure of parts of the stem to the fingers, and wiping off and absorbing any polish which might "coat the stem during sliding movement ofthe same in the'delivery channel ll.

The forward or delivery end of body portion H opposite plunger button it is provided with an applicator pad 24 of absorbent material. In the'preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, applicator pad 2d is preferably wedge-shaped or sector-shaped and is preferably sponge rubber or the like in order to absorb the liquid which emerges from delivery channel l! and which is to be applied to the article to be treated, Said applicator pad may The resilient 3 be anchored in a suitably formed recess of body portion I I by means of adhesive.

When it is desired to apply polish or other liquid in bottle is to an article, control plunger 13 is manually depressed or urged inwardly from its normally retracted position of Fig. 4 to its op-- erative position of Fig. 5. In the latter position the lateral port 2| of said plunger registers with the vertical inlet channel l6 and provides communication with the delivery channel H. When the bottle is tilted, as shown in Fig. 5, the liquid will flow from the bottle and soak the absorbent applicator pad as. The path of flow will be from the bottle to inlet channel 16, then through port 2! and axial passageway 20 of control plunger I8 and into delivery channel I! and finally onto applicator pad 24. Upon releasing control plunger 18, th resilient pad or gasket 23 will automatically expand to assume its normal configuration of Fig. 4, thereby simultaneously retracting said plunger to bring port 24 out of registration with inlet channel [0 and cutting off the flow from the bottle.

The arrangement of the present invention is exceedingly simple and provides for efi'icient operation. In particular th manner of mounting the control plunger 18 is especially advantageous in that the compressible, resilient gasket member 23 which surrounds control plunger 18, and which i anchored on one side to said plunger and on the opposite side to body portion 1 I, provides for automatic retraction of the plunger cutting ofi the flow of liquid from the device and prevents excessive outward movement or separation of the plunger from the body portion of the device. The use of a return spring is thus obviated and it is possible to have the delivery channel 11 of uniform bore rather than providing it with an internal abutment or the like to limit the outward movement of the control plunger.

The arrangement shown in the drawings also makes it possible to harmonize the plunger design and the configuration of the body portion I I.

The combined closure and applicator device of the invention is particularly adapted for dispensing liquid polishes for shoes or the like, but may be used for dispensing and applying a large variety of liquid treating agents.

Since certain modifications may be made in the device of the present invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing specification and shown in the accompanying drawing be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A combined closure and applicator device for liquid containers comprising, a, cylindrical body portion provided with a cap member for threadable reception upon the top of a bottle, said body portion having a diametrically-extending delivery channel extending through it and opening at opposite sides of the body portion, a feed channel extending from the delivery channel through the cap member to communicate with the interior of the bottle, the body member being provided with a recess at each end of the delivery channel, a sponge seated in each of said recesses, one of the sponges constituting an applicator member projecting out of its recess and fitting over and closing one end of the delivery channel, the second sponge being absorbent and having a passage through it located in registration with the delivery channel, a plunger having a stem portion slidable through the delivery a Number 4 channel and through the passage in the lastmentioned sponge, said stem having a head at one end in contact with said sponge, whereby said absorbent sponge will Wipe the stem portion and absorb liquid therefrom when said stem portion slides through it and the stem having a passage for establishing communication between the delivery and feed passages when the head of the plunger is pressed inwardly against the sponge which surrounds its stem.

2. A combined closure and applicator device for liquid containers comprising, a cap for fitment on the top of a bottle, a head portion connected to the cap, a delivery passage extending diametrically through the head, said delivery passage having a feed part communicating with the interior of the cap, a plunger slidable through the delivery passage to establish communication between th feed part and delivery passage or to shut off communication between the same, the head being recessed at the opposite ends of the delivery passage, a sponge located in each of said recesses, one or the sponges constituting an applicator pad and the other sponge constituting an absorbent gasket and a return spring for the plunger, the latter sponge having a portion of the plunger extending slidably through it.

3. A closure and applicator device for liquid containers comprising, a body having means for attaching it to the outlet of a container, a passage extending through the body and having one end in communication with the outlet of the container, the body having a recess located at the other end of the passage, an applicator of absorbing material secured in said recess and covering the latter end of the passage, a slidable valve operative in the passage between the ends thereof and having means for establishing communication between said passage and the outlet of the container, one end of the valve being exposed on the outside of the body, the body having a recess around said exposed end of the valve, a compressible, absorbent sponge secured in said recess and surrounding the exposed end of the valve and through which the valve is slidable, said sponge serving as a spring means for holding said valve in closed position and serving also as an absorbent wiper for the part of the valve that is slidable through it.

FRANK LECKLER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date McGinley Dec. 26, 1882 Meeker Aug. 18, 1891 Murray May 14, 901 Rickey Dec. 9, 1902 Sonnenfeld et al. Apr. 18, 1905 Grady Feb. 3, 1925 Sargery Mar. 30, 1926 Parr June 15, 1926 Cobello Dec. 13, 1932 White July 18, 1933 Olson Dec. 12, 1933 Seburger Sept. 22, 1936 Moore June 14, 1938 Edwards Dec. 26, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Italy Feb. 7, 1928 France Apr. 1, 1921 Number 

